baptism (which baptism corresponds accurately with the confirmation of baptism at mature age");-that institution, which both Luther and Calvin agreed ought to be retained, as being in undoubted conformity to primitive use;-that sacred and salutary ordinance is utterly unknown in our foreign dominions, and appears to be renounced by the Church, as being an observance of slight import, compared to the trouble of appointing a person to administer it.

LITERARY REPRESENTATIVES OF CHRISTIANITY IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.

Ar a period when Christian nations have begun, as with one consent, to diffuse a knowledge of Divine Revelation; when the Scriptures seek access into every region; and Christianity shews signs of revival in places where it has been long dormant; it seems of importance that learned and zealous men should visit, or be occasionally resident at those places which once saw great light," and are famed in the annals of Christian Antiquity. Some of the following stations will probably be thought the most eligible.

1. Greek Islands, or Lesser Asia. 2. Syria, or Egypt.

3. Abyssinia.

4. Erivan in Armenia.

5. Bagdad.

6. Ispahan, or Cabul.

7. Samarchand and Bucharia.

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8. Hungary, and adjacent regions-in the vicinity of the Jews.

These Literary Representatives must be main

a

tained entirely at the expense of the Societies of the Church. It will be proper to explain the object of the Literary Mission.

The importance to the interests of Christianity, at the present period, of having a Representative of the Church resident at places contiguous to the scenes of Christian Antiquity, must be evident. His office would be, to correspond with the Church at home as a literary character, rather than to preach at his station, which would not often, perhaps, be practicable, though every proper opportunity of preaching should be embraced by him; to communicate with the Societies at home, in respect to the supply of Bibles and religious tracts suited to his country; to superintend the distribution of the same; to collect manuscripts of the Scriptures; to elucidate Scripture history from his knowledge of Asiatic scenes; to suggest new translations of the Scriptures, and measures for executing them; to point out proper places for Christian missions; and, generally, to interest himself in whatever might be serviceable to religion, and the promotion of Christianity.

It would always be expected, that the result of his observations should be given to the public, under the direction of the Society to which he belongs.

There is no difficulty in finding a proper station. Commerce has her Consuls at Aleppo, Tunis, Bagdad, Bussorah. Representatives of the Church might be stationed at the same places for a more important purpose. Government will give a passport to Commerce through the world. Can it be refused to Christianity? Some of the smaller denominations of Christians have found it practicable to establish missions in places, which, at first sight, appeared to be inaccessible; and where they maintain the best understanding with the governments of the country.

In general cases, the labour of learning a new language ought not to be imposed: though it may always be expected that no person will be selected for such a situation who is not a general scholar, and who has not studied the Oriental languages*. If he be a learned man, and his mind

* The Church Missionary Society has, in its last Report, invited young Clergymen to come forward under its protection, and to enter on the promising spheres of labour which are opening before the Christian world.

"The free and unlimited access," the Society remarks, "which Great Britain has acquired by her arms to all the regions beyond the Cape of Good Hope, displays the "grandest theatre ever offered to Christian exertions. The "Missionary who devotes himself to the service of Christ

be embued by sentiments of genuine piety, he will employ his time, with more advantage to the interests of religion, by directing others, and by ge

66 among uncivilized men, has to encounter the slow and "arduous labour of fixing their language, and then teach❝ing it to these tribes, before they can read the wonder"ful works of God: but, throughout the East, two-thirds 68 perhaps of the whole human race are already so far civi"lized as to possess a written language, and yet remain "ignorant of the way of salvation! Into many of these "languages the Word of God is already translated, or is "actually in the course of translation. Here, indeed, the "fields are white unto the harvest! A young Clergyman, "master of the Ethiopic, Persian, Arabic, or Syriac, of the "Tamul, Cingalese, Bengalee, Hindostanee, or Malay, may "take the Scriptures in his hand, and read them in their 66 own tongue to millions of his fellow-men perishing for "lack of that very knowledge! Or, if his heart is fixed on

extending the savour of Christ's name still more widely, "let him go forth and labour with those excellent men who "devote their skill and their time to the transfusing the "Word of God into some of those languages-spoken and "written by almost countless multitudes-which are not yet enriched by the Divine Word."

In respect to the Levant, it is observed, "The revolu"tions on the Continent having ruined the ancient Romish "Society, De propaganda Fide,' the Missions maintained

by that body are dwindling away. The Committee have "had much interesting communication on this subject with "Dr. Naudi from Malta, who strongly urges the Society to "send well-qualified men to carry the Gospel into the "LEVANT and THROUGHOUT THE ARCHIPELAGO